Once you were having a conversation with a friend and wanted to recommend a good book you just finished, or a movie you last watched. But suddenly, you don't remember the title! The title is already on the tip of your tongue, but the harder you try to remember it, the less you remember it. We've all been through that, and everyone knows how hard it can be to trace back all the information floating around in your head. Fortunately, there are many options for exploring short-term memory, improving long-term memory, and getting your mind to remember important details.
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Method 1 of 13: Repeat important information out loud
Step 1. Say the address, phone number, or date over and over again so that it sticks in your memory
This is a simple solution, but is the best option you have if you know you need some information in the near future.
When you repeat something out loud, you technically don't remember it. You are actually creating a pattern and sound that will make the information easier to remember later on
Method 2 of 13: Create important associations in your head
Step 1. Draw an image in your mind so that the name, date, and an object are easy to remember
If you meet someone named Vincent, think of a painting by Vincent Van Gogh. If you want to remember that you parked your car in the F16 section of the parking lot, just imagine a fighter plane parked next to your car. Doing this in your mind can dramatically improve your ability to recall specific information, as well as a fun exercise!
Another example, if you are having trouble remembering names and you meet someone named Natalia, you can imagine “Christmas Tree” and draw the person standing next to the Christmas tree. If you find a brand of potato chips you like, branded “Umbrella Chips,” you can imagine a pile of potatoes sitting on the beach under a large umbrella
Method 3 of 13: Focus on one thing at a time
Step 1. Turn off the television when you are studying and turn off the sound of your cell phone when you are driving
When you do many activities at once, your attention is divided, making it difficult to process the information you need to remember about what you are doing. If you want to remember something more clearly, focus on one task at a time. Put your phone in your pocket, remove your headphones, and devote yourself to the task at hand.
Multitasking also has many long term effects. There is evidence to suggest that people who multitask are more likely to be distracted than other people
Method 4 of 13: Take notes and write down the important things
Step 1. Write down what you want to remember at a later date
Taking notes will help you retain your memory, even if you don't look at the notes anymore! Although remembering is an activity in the brain, writing is a physical activity. Combining remembering with writing will help your brain remember information.
Surprisingly, research indicates that a similar effect is difficult to achieve by writing on a cell phone or laptop. So, it's a good idea to stick with a pen and paper if you want to remember your friend's birthday or schedule a visit to the dentist next week
Method 5 of 13: Take a short walk
Step 1. There is plenty of scientific evidence that walking activates your memory
If you're trying to remember something, take a few minutes to walk around your house and see if this helps. At the very least, you can exercise a little and relax a bit. If you're lucky, you'll remember an important book from your old school days!
- If you don't have much time, there is evidence to suggest that walking backwards for a few minutes can help you remember specific details. This may seem a bit silly to do, but it can help you remember something important.
- Regular walking can help your overall memory. Walking a few times a week can actually increase the size of the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory. Right-walking makes you smarter!
Method 6 of 13: Change your routine to remember important information
Step 1. Stand up to memorize very important information or sit outside while you study difficult material
Lie down or do jumping jacks while saying something you want to internalize. Routine is necessary to build good habits, but routine makes you do something without processing what you are doing. Even simple things like lifting your laptop off your desk and working at the kitchen table can help you remember what you did later on.
Routines require very little effort or attention. That's why people sometimes forget to stop by the grocery store or post office on their way home from work-they're not used to doing that. This is known as procedural memory, where you remember the routine instead of the material. By changing the procedure, it's easier for you to form memories
Method 7 of 13: Drink coffee or tea
Step 1. Try brewing green tea or drinking coffee to activate your memory
The reason is very clear: caffeine keeps you awake, thereby boosting your brain. This can help you remember the specific information that is on the tip of your tongue.
Caffeine will help you remember things from the past, but it won't help you form new memories. As a result, drinking a cup of coffee while you're studying isn't a great way to remember what you're learning
Method 8 of 13: Cut back on sweets
Step 1. Consuming too much sugar is bad for your long term memory
So, avoid sugar to make your mind clear. Drink coffee with cream and without sugar. Try eating less sweets and fast food altogether. Not only will it make you healthier and happier, but it will also make it easier for you to remember things.
Eating a diet high in fat also has a similar effect, although the effect of fat on memory has not been studied as thoroughly as the effect of sugar. Eat a balanced diet and avoid processed foods as much as possible
Method 9 of 13: Do puzzles and play strategy games
Step 1. Play chess, complete a crossword puzzle, or gather some friends to play cards
This won't explicitly help your memory, but the game will keep your brain sharp. When you play a game that demands a lot of thinking, it becomes a kind of weight training exercise for your brain. There is ample evidence that strategy games and brain teasers improve cognitive function, which can help with memory.
In addition, there is also some research that states that video games can help your memory. Be careful not to overplay the game and try to keep playing games that require complex thinking
Method 10 of 13: Meditate several times a week
Step 1. Meditate regularly if you want to improve your memory over time
By meditating, you bridge the gap between what's going on in your head and your body. While you may not see immediate results, meditating for 20-30 minutes every day can improve your memory in one month. Find a quiet place to relax, sit down, and do some guided meditation to get started.
Even if you don't feel like your memory is improving, meditating regularly will improve your mental resilience, emotional well-being, and physical health, so it's worth trying. Keep meditating
Method 11 of 13: Exercise more often
Step 1. Do some running, cycling to work, or lifting weights a few times a week
Exercise will pump blood throughout your body thereby increasing blood flow to the brain. Find fun ways to exercise to keep you going. For example, if you don't like lifting weights, you could play basketball or go to the local pool a few times a week.
While this won't help you remember anything at once, physical exercise is one of the best ways to gradually improve your ability to remember things
Method 12 of 13: Get enough sleep every night
Step 1. Get into bed at a reasonable time and sleep for 8 hours at night
If you're studying for an important exam, in order to get good grades, it's best to take a nap instead of staying up all night studying. Sleep helps you process large amounts of information, so get at least 8 hours of sleep every night if you want to be able to remember things clearly.
Although the relationship between sleep and memory is not fully understood, sleep is thought to help consolidate memories, which is the process by which new information is converted into something you can remember
Method 13 of 13: Pay attention to the moments where you remember something
Step 1. Remembering something once will make it easier for your brain to remember it in the future
Unfortunately, every time you remember something, your brain distorts facts and little details, like a game of phone calls where someone whispers a phrase to someone else and then passes it on to someone else. To counter this effect, replay something you remember in your mind and say, “I remember this now” out loud. This will help you remember details and specifics the next time you try to remember them.
